"trans. to turn towards; to turn round; to bring back, convert, Lk. 1:16, 17; Jas. 5:19, 20; intrans. and mid. to turn one’s self upon or towards, Acts 9:40; Rev. 1:12; to turn about, Mt. 9:22; to turn back, return, Mt. 12:44; met. to be converted, Acts 28:27"
Definition and meaning
trans. to turn towards; to turn round; to bring back, convert, Lk. 1:16, 17; Jas. 5:19, 20; intrans. and mid. to turn one’s self upon or towards, Acts 9:40; Rev. 1:12; to turn about, Mt. 9:22; to turn back, return, Mt. 12:44; met. to be converted, Acts 28:27
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιστρέφω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epistrepho (G1994) across the King James Bible.
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
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Common questions
Strong's G1994 (epistrepho) is a Greek word that means: trans. to turn towards; to turn round; to bring back, convert, Lk. 1:16, 17; Jas. 5:19, 20; intrans. and mid. to turn one’s self upon or towards, Acts 9:40; Rev. 1:12; to turn about, Mt. 9:22; to turn... It appears 38 times in the King James Bible.
The word epistrepho (G1994) appears 38 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1994 is epistrepho, a Greek word defined as: trans. to turn towards; to turn round; to bring back, convert, Lk. 1:16, 17; Jas. 5:19, 20; intrans. and mid. to turn one’s self upon or towards, Acts. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epistrepho is a Greek word found in the New Testament.